Yesterday, on May 25th 1883, a great event took place. One of such importance that
Brooklyn schools and public offices were closed to enable the full citizenry the opportunity to
witness the event. (1) The Brooklyn Bridge, the eighth wonder of the world though perhaps the
most important, was presented to great masses of citizens and many distinguished persons,
including the President of the United States and his cabinet, the Governor of New York and his
staff, various Representatives and Senators from several States and Territories, and the Mayors
of Brooklyn and New York. (2)
Despite the period of laconic interest and doubt before the opening of the Bridge, Brooklyn
responded to the event with great enthusiasm and the visiting dignitaries were treated to an
event of previously unknown grandeur lasting well into the evening. Every building was
ornamented and shining on Staid Fulton street near the Bridge. Of particular interest to the
people was the military parade consisting of various United States and national guard units
which garnered large crowds from the preparation point, through the well decorated streets of
Brooklyn to the bridge. At times, such as the arrival of the Fifth Artillery, U.S.A, and of a
battalion of United States marines, during the preparation of the line for the noon parade great
applause arose. (3)
New York’s response to the Bridge opening was perhaps more staid in comparison to
Brooklyn’s. Rather than the general decoration and “old-country fair” atmosphere (3)
dominating in Brooklyn, the only general decoration in New York was the flying of the United
States flag, although several of the buildings nearest the Bridge were as gaily decorated as was
the general state of Brooklyn. Further contrast occurs in the fact that most shops in New York
remained open with a number of patrons commiserate with what they would have on an
ordinary day. However, like the public offices and schools of Brooklyn some Exchanges and
business houses downtown were closed or only open for a half-day.
Crowd interests and actions provided the most striking similarities between the two cities
yesterday. First, there was the shear number of spectators crowding both cities. Then there was
their methods of observation, lining the procession routes, crowding rooftops and windows using
opera glasses and telescopes to get better views. (3) (4) Furthermore, the enthusiasm shown for
the military components of the processions were commiserate on both sides of the bridge. On the
New York side the procession of the Seventh Regiment, the President, the Governor, the mayor
of New York, and other distinguished guests, began around a quarter to noon. The greatest
applause of the day on the New York side came when the spectators witnessed the calm of their
leaders and the quick thinking of their police officers during the near disaster, in the form of a
runaway carriage carrying the President and the Mayor. (4) Another similarity between the
cities was the crowd’s response to the matter of entrance to the platform in Brooklyn and the
Bridge itself in New York, which presented the greatest challenge for police of the day as except
for these two instances the crowd was quite well-mannered. In Brooklyn, there were over ten
thousand people waiting for two thousand seats which caused a lively commotion in the search
for seats. (3) In New York, tickets had been issued, however, there were also ticket speculators
selling tickets for two dollars to the curious lacking tickets. These illegitimate sells were soon
stopped though.
When the Presidential procession reached the Bridge from New York the military units
already there and those in his own procession presented arms and at two o’clock when they were
met by the Bridge trustees the first gun of the twenty-one gun salute was sounded by the man-
o-war Tennessee. Four other ships joined in the salute along with the Navy yard and castle
island. The visual spectacle upon reaching the Bridge was equal to the auditory one for every
boat and ship in the water, as well as, the Bridge itself was highly decorated. (4)
Celebrations continued into the evening for the city of Brooklyn had decided to give
Governor Cleveland a reception by the Board of Aldermen and had voted to allocate five
thousand dollars toward illuminations (1) which resulted in the creation of a spectacle not to be
missed in the evening particularly as many private entities joined in the illuminations. The
crowds coming to this late celebration was just as impressive as those earlier received at the
Bridge official opening. The people came in an endless stream and packed themselves into the
area around the bridge so that there was barely any space between them. Among the private
entities helping to provide the illumination was the steam ship Guadalupe lit with hundreds of
red, white, and blue ships lanterns and the vessels of the Iron Steamboat line brilliantly lit by
electric lights. There were also a great number of Chinese lanterns lit in the vicinity of the Bridge
in front of building and across the streets. The closing ceremonies and the fireworks themselves
began at eight o’clock and did not end until nine o‘clock with the finale of five hundred rockets. In
all the show required two through wetting of the Bridge, two battalions of fire-fighters, and
fourteen tons of fireworks. The other illuminations were still setting the city ablaze as late as
midnight even after the Presidential party retired. (5)
Though the events of yesterday may make it seem as if the Bridge enjoyed universal
popularity and confidence that is quite untrue. As any revolutionary project does it faced great
controversy both during the building process and earlier today. Early in the building of the
bridge there was a great deal of scandal but even after that was cleared up and even now that
the bridge is built there remains a certain doubt about the foundations of the bridge which is
built upon the foundations of massive timber caissons. (6) However, today served as the
definitive test of the bridge as the capacity of the bridge was stretched to the limit, except for its
eventual railway capacity, and it remained quite steady giving no more than three inches. (7)
Yesterday was a celebration of the genius of man, and today was the proof of that genius.
They said it couldn’t be done, but the success of the grand engineering project using methods
never before used and stretching those methods that were previously used to a far greater
degree than ever previously done proved that nothing is impossible when man decides to try.
(1) “Brooklyn’s Bridge,” Los Angeles Times, 8 May 1883.
(2) Western Associated Press Night Report, “Brooklyn Bridge,” Los Angeles Times, 25
May 1883.
(3) “The Great Bridge,” Chicago Tribune, 25 May 1883.
(4) “Two Great Cities United,” New York Times, 25 May 1883.
(5)”Fireworks and Illumination.” New York Times, 25 May 1883.
(6) “Beginning the Great Work,” New York Times, 24 May 1883.
(7) “Crossing the New Bridge,” New York Times, 26 May 1883.
